STAR PREVIEW: York Day Three

A blank day for us again, but yours truly cannot and will not apologise for Acts of God, also known as Mums Tipple. Baltic Knight was disappointing but Enable was spellbinding, and one can only pray she makes it to the Arc this year in top form. It’s been a long time since yours truly saw Frankie Dettori that emotional on a racecourse, and the energy from both the crowd and all those watching on social media was something truly special.

We have been lucky to see some brilliant racing all week at York, but the most excitement in the four days might be crammed into the space of a minute with today’s Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes (3.35). We have had some great renewals in recent years, and once again we have a tantalising clash with July Cup winner Ten Sovereigns taking on World leading sprinter Battaash and the L’Abbaye winner Mabs Cross in a high quality 12 runner field.

Battaash has disappointed here twice but Charlie Hills’ charge has not shown his best on either occasion and this could well be third time lucky. In 2017 he was fancied to go seriously close but was upset before the start, losing his cool beforehand and then being too keen early during the race. He was better going into the stalls last year, but again over-racing early may have cost him as he got into a sustained battle with Alpha Delphini, the eventual winner, before being passed in the final furlong. A year on from that, he has raced with an impressive amount of control in winning the Temple Stakes, finishing second in the King’s Stand, and then winning his third King George Stakes.

Charlie Hills will travel with him on the day rather than stabling him overnight, and at the age of five, hopefully, a more settled and mature horse, combined with the new routine, will see him produce his best – and if that is the case then he will take a lot of beating.

Ten Sovereigns was brilliant in a strong renewal of the July Cup and has to be respected here. However, five furlongs at York is very different to six on Newmarket’s July course, and it must be a worry that he finds this just a touch too quick. For all his speed, it’s worth noting that Ten Sovereigns only folded in the last furlong of the 2,000 Guineas and he was strong in the finish of the Middle Park and July Cup. Both those six furlong tracks have rises to them, and York does not.

Mabs Cross, the Abbaye winner who was beaten a nose in last year’s renewal, is the other big threat, and she must be feared for all Battaash has beaten her twice this season. Garrus and Soldier’s Call were slightly disappointing in the Flying Five but both will relish the strong pace that’ll be on offer here and they have place chances.

Aidan O’Brien’s other three-year-olds, Fairyland and So Perfect, would probably prefer an extra furlong and stiffer track and whilst none of the field are discounted, only Rumbleinthejungle caught the eye of the outsiders.

It’s been another week to remember for John Gosden and Frankie Dettori, and whilst winning a valuable handicap might not be at the top of their priorities, they do have a strong shout in the opening Sky Bet Handicap (1.55) with Corelli. On his return, he bumped into Baghdad, who subsequently won the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes at Royal Ascot, and he travelled well in the Queen Alexandra Stakes at the same meeting before failing to see out the trip. He was much happier back to this trip at Newmarket when he was just beaten by the Old Newton Cup winner Kelly’s Dino, with listed second Outbox behind in third. Both those efforts are arguably the strongest pieces of form in the race here and he’s earned a mark of 100, only 3lbs higher than he was for his Newmarket second.

There are plenty of threats, including Jazeel, who has looked as if he’d benefit from a step up in trip despite having a fine season so far, Old Newton Cup third Epaulment, and Shergar Cup winner Indianapolis.

The Lonsdale Cup (2.25) should see another Gosden/Dettori star in the shape of Stradivarius, the much loved dual Gold Cup winner who can take another million-pound bonus. Dee Ex Bee will make him give his all, but that has been the case twice before and the Champion Stayer has been too strong. This will be a fierce test of the up and coming stayer Falcon Eight, a winner of the Coral Marathon when last seen, and it is interesting that Aidan O’Brien has decided to send Il Paradiso – a wide margin handicap winner at The Curragh – here when he has several stayers in his stable.

Magic Circle was well beaten in the Gold Cup and needs to come back to something like his best to get involved here.

The Gimcrack Stakes (3.00) is a fiercely contested renewal but Threat sets a strong standard. Richard Hannon’s colt, an impressive winner on his debut, was then just beaten in the Coventry and Richmond Stakes but the form of the Coventry has worked out well and Golden Horde did the Richmond Stakes form no harm when he was then third in the Prix Morny.

The two most likely to challenge Threat are: Spartan Fighter who beat the subsequent Norfolk winner A’Ali at Ripon before then following up easily under a penalty here: and Dubai Station, who was third in the Norfolk and then second in the Prix de Caubourg behind the Morny winner Earthlight and Well of Wisdom. Watch out too for Kevin Ryan’s Byline, who impressed on his last start.

The Convivial Stakes (4.15) is a fascinating contest which is one for the notebook rather than punting. The closing Nationwide Accident Repair Services Handicap (4.50) is another typical York affair when you could give any in the field a chance. Britannia Stakes winner Biometric caught the eye, but off a 10lbs higher mark for that Ascot success, not enough to make it into the Friday portfolio.

RECOMMENDED BETS (scale of 1-100 points)
BACK Corelli 1.55 York 2 pts win at 5/1 with starsports.bet
BACK Threat 3.00 York 2 pts win at 13/8 with starsports.bet
BACK Battaash 3.35 York 4 pts win at 2/1 with starsports.bet

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